I Like Rainy Days

Nixa Sky Before Our Rain

This is what our sky looked like yesterday before the rains began. We received a very welcome rain and no storms, thanks.

Yes, I do like rainy days. I like the comforting feeling I have as I listen to the raindrops hitting the roof. I am sure my feelings, in part, stem from my memories of long ago. Rain meant I didn't have to go to the cotton patch that day. It also meant that on many of those rainy days, my Mother, my Sister and I would spend the day sitting in our barn loft picking peanuts off the vines. We would then throw the vines down to the ground for the cows to eat. The job itself was not that pleasant. Remember we had pulled the peanuts out of the ground, (another back-breaking job) hauled them to the barn on a horse drawn wagon, then with a pitch fork they were thrown into the barn loft so they were dirty and we got very dirty and sometimes very HOT while sitting right under---and very close to--- the barn's metal roof.

I have since realized, years after the fact, that the part of the days I really enjoyed was getting to spend the days with my Mother and Sister in a very "controlled" space while Marie and I had our Mother's total attention. We talked, we laughed and it didn't seem so much like work. Many days, during our growing up years, our Mother was so busy and had so much work to do to keep things on the farm running, she didn't have much time for one-on-one with us.

Another thing I remember about rainy days plays a very important part of who I am today. I have always had a desire and a need to do things I wasn't big enough or old enough to do!! Using my Mother's treddle sewing machine was one of those desires. I was too short to sit on a chair and reach the pedal so I stood. On rainy days, if I could find a piece of fabric or a feed sack that I could use, I would spend the day cutting, sewing and making a doll dress. Later years, I would make something I myself, could wear. One day when I was 7 or 8, I had my finger too close to the needle and sewed clear through my finger nail. It was painful but I thought I could NOT show it to my Mother or she would never let me near the machine again. When the blood began to flow however, I had no choice but to show her. She put some medicine on it, wrapped it up and said, "Well, that goes with it!!". She sent me back to the machine and I was the happiest child in "town".

You have probably observed that I didn't really like going to the cotton patch!!!

Darla, you may be sorry you encouraged me to write. Now I may never stop!!!! Thanks for your comments. As for Andrew's question, I know his Granddad has been writing a "log" about his Navy days and early life. Perhaps he will share it sometime. His days now are filled with mowing the lawn, picking garden veggies and any other thing Jan and I can think of for him to do so he doesn't have time to write. He does have time to watch his ball games, however.

Love all of you,

Dortha